Lake Forest Municipal Code Ch. 13.05 Skatepark Regulations

"Audio equipment"

means any radio, compact disc player, tape player, walkman, megaphone, or any other audio device utilized to transmit or amplify sound.

"BMX Bicycle" or "BMX bike"

means a BMX (bicycle motocross) type bicycle with adequately covered or padded pegs.

"Bike"

means to ride, operate, or use a bicycle.

"City"

means the City of Lake Forest.

"Director"

means the City of Lake Forest Director of Community Services, or another person designated by the City Manager.

"Electrically motorized board"

means any wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding, is designed to transport only one person, and has an electric propulsion system, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 313.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Electric bicycle"

means an electric bicycle equipped with both fully operable pedals and an electric motor, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time. A BMX bicycle or BMX "bike" is not an electric bicycle for purposes of this chapter.

"Entry pass"

means the permit or license issued by the City to allow skating, skateboarding, and biking at the Park.

"Helmet,"

for purposes of this chapter, means a safety helmet that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 bicycle helmet standards), the Snell Memorial Foundation Standard for Protective Headgear for use in bicycling, or the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM F-1447 standard).

"In-line skates"

means in-line skates also known as rollerblades, which are footwear containing four or more axles mounted in a straight line extending generally from or behind the heel of the footwear to or in front of the toe of the footwear with a single wheel attached to each axle.

"Park,"

for purposes of this chapter, means the Etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest located on Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, California, and it includes the skate area at the Park as well as the buildings, grounds, parking lot(s), spectator area(s) and facility areas encompassed within the entire facility.

"Scooter"

means manually propelled, two wheeled scooters.

"Skate" or "skateboard"

means to ride, operate or use skates or a skateboard.

"Skate area"

means the area of the Park specifically designated pursuant to this chapter for skating, skateboarding and biking.

"Skateboard"

means a board of any material, which has wheels attached to it and which is propelled or moved by human, gravitational power, and to which there is not fixed any device or mechanism to turn or control the wheels.

"Skates"

means any footwear, or device which may be attached to the footwear, to which wheels are attached and such wheels may be used to aid the wearer in moving or propulsion. "Skates" includes rollerskates, in-line skates, and rollerblades.

(Ord. 168, 2007; Ord. 358 § 23, 2022)

No person shall skate, skateboard or bike at the Park unless and until he or she has received from the City an entry pass pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 168, 2007)

To ensure the enjoyment, safety and proper use of the Park, all persons using the Park, including all persons skating, skateboarding, or biking at the Park, shall comply with each and every one of the following regulations:

A. Pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and California Health and Safety Code Section 115800(b), no person shall skate, skateboard, or bike unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet, elbow pads designed for skateboarding, in-line skating and/or biking uses with plastic elbow caps, and knee pads designed for skateboarding, in-line skating, and/or biking uses with plastic knee caps.

B. No person shall skate, skateboard, or bike unless all the required equipment is in good repair at all times during use.

C. No person shall enter or be upon the skate area at any time other than during the posted hours of operation for the Park. No person shall enter or be upon the skate area at any time that the Park is closed or when City staff or designated representatives have closed the skate area.

D. No person shall skate, skateboard, or bike anywhere at the Park except in the skate area.

E. No person shall ride, operate, or utilize in the skate area any device other than skateboards, skates, and non-BMX, non-electric bicycles. Prohibited devices include, but are not limited to, BMX bikes, electric bicycles, scooters, razors, and all other vehicles.

F. Spectators are not allowed in the skate area. No person shall enter or be upon the skate area unless that person is actively skateboarding, skating, or biking in accordance with these regulations.

G. No person under the age of eight years old shall be permitted to utilize the skate area unless accompanied by an adult.

H. No person shall place any additional piece of equipment, obstacle, apparatus, or other material, including, but not limited to, ramps, jumps, or rails, within the skate area, and no person shall use any such additional piece of equipment, obstacle, apparatus, or other material.

I. No person shall skate, skateboard, or bike when the surface of the skate area is wet or other conditions exist which adversely affect the safety of skateboarders, skaters, or bikers.

J. No person shall use or engage in profanity, reckless or boisterous behavior, including, but not limited to, tandem riding, pushing, horseplay, hazing or bullying, or any other activity which could endanger the safety of persons using the skate area or spectator area.

K. No person shall use, consume, or have within his or her custody or control, food or other beverages, other than water in a plastic container, within the skate area.

L. No person shall use, consume, or have within his or her custody or control, alcohol, tobacco products, or illegal drugs at the Park.

M. No person shall enter or be upon the park or skate area under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs or with his or her motor skills or judgment impaired as the result of any alcoholic beverage or drugs.

N. No person shall use or possess glass containers, bottles, or other breakable glass products within the Park.

O. No knives, guns, or weapons of any nature shall be permitted in any portion of the Park.

P. No person shall use a portable or personal radio, stereo, compact disc player, tape player, walkman, megaphone, or any other audio equipment utilized to transmit or amplify sound in the skate area. No person shall use headphones in the skate area.

Q. No person shall engage in graffiti, tagging, or other defacing of the Park.

R. All persons using the Park area must place trash in receptacles or containers provided by the City.

S. When determined by City staff that a skater, skateboarder, or biker has violated one or more of the regulations set forth in this section, that person, when so directed by City staff, shall leave the skate area and/or the Park.

T. Except for instructors employed or contracted by the City, no person or group shall provide instruction, coaching, or teaching of skating, skateboarding, or biking in the Park for any fee or compensation. No person shall pay another person at the Park for instruction, coaching, or teaching.

U. The Park may not be used by any camp or other group which has charged tuition or other fees to participants covering the period during which participants are present in the Park with the camp or group.

(Ord. 168, 2007; Ord. 302 § 46, 2018; Ord. 358 § 24, 2022)

A. The Director or designated representative is hereby authorized to establish hours of operation for the Park and is authorized to and shall establish procedures for the issuance, suspension, and revocation of entry passes to skate, skateboard, or bike at the Park. That process shall include, at a minimum, the following:

1. Persons desiring to skate, skateboard, or bike at the Park obtaining a permit, which allows for such skating, skateboarding, and biking.

2. Persons desiring to skate, skateboard, or bike at the Park paying the fees that have been adopted by the City Council.

3. Persons desiring to skate, skateboard or bike at the Park, and where applicable their parents or guardians, being required to complete and sign a liability waiver and release, in the form acceptable to the City Attorney, waiving and releasing the City from any claims that may arise out of injuries suffered while skating, skateboarding or biking at the Park.

4. Skaters, skateboarders and bikers, before receiving the required permit, being required to review and sign a statement that they have read and understand the regulations contained in this chapter and that they will comply with all those regulations.

B. The Director shall designate and demarcate the skate area which will be the area of the Park used for skating, skateboarding and biking.

C. The hours of operation for the Park, including separate designated times for skating, skateboarding and biking, shall be established by the Director.

D. The Director shall develop a policy to govern suspension or revocation of entry passes for skaters, skateboarders, bikers, and other skatepark users who fail to comply with the regulations set forth in Section 13.05.030.

(Ord. 168, 2007; Ord. 358 § 14, 2022)

The Director shall post signs at the entrance to the skate area and at other locations at the Park which the Director determines are appropriate and adequate. The content of the signs shall be determined by the Director, but the signs shall generally cover the regulations in this chapter and have the following information and statements.

1. To skate, skateboard, or bike at the Park, a permit must first be obtained from the City.

2. The hours the Park is open.

3. Skating, skateboarding, and biking are only allowed when the Park is open.

4. Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads are required to be worn at all times in the skate area and while skating, skateboarding, or biking.

5. The failure to wear helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads will subject violators to citation and prosecution under the Lake Forest Municipal Code.

6. Skateboarding, skating, and biking are hazardous recreation activities. Skaters, skateboarders, and bikers skate/bike at their own risk of being injured. The City will not be liable for injuries.

7. Only skateboards, skates, non-BMX bicycles, and non-electric bicycles can be used in the skate area.

8. Scooters, razors, electric bicycles, electrically motorized boards, or motorized vehicles are prohibited in the skate area.

9. No person under the age of eight years old shall be permitted to use the skate area unless accompanied by an adult.

10. No skateboarding, skating, or biking on wet surfaces.

11. Spectators are not permitted in the skate area.

12. No portable or personal radio, stereo, CD player, or similar device, or headphones are permitted in the skate area.

13. No unauthorized pieces of equipment, obstacles or apparatus may be brought into the skate area.

14. Skating, skateboarding, or biking outside of the skate area is prohibited.

15. Graffiti, tagging, and defacing the Park are prohibited.

16. Possession of glass containers at the Park is prohibited.

17. Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use are prohibited at the Park.

18. Skating, skateboarding, or biking while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is prohibited.

19. Trash must be deposited in the trash receptacles.

20. Persons violating the regulations will be removed from the Park and may be prohibited from skating, skateboarding, or biking at the Park in the future.

21. Persons violating the regulations will be subject to citation and prosecution under the Lake Forest Municipal Code.

(Ord. 168, 2007; Ord. 358 § 25, 2022)

A. The Director is directed and authorized to adopt and promulgate procedures and regulations which are consistent with this chapter to implement the provisions of this chapter.

B. The Director is authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the regulation that skaters, skateboarders, and bikers wear helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads when skating, skateboarding, or biking at the Park.

C. The Director shall cause to be maintained a record of all known or reported injuries incurred by a skater, skateboarder, or biker in the Park. The City Clerk shall cause to be maintained a record of all claims, paid and not paid, including any lawsuits and their results, arising from injuries incurred by a skater, skateboarder or biker in the Park that are filed against the City. The Director and the City Clerk shall file copies of such reports annually, no later than January 30 of each year, with the Judicial Council of California, Research & Planning Unit, Skateboard Records, H&S 115800, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102.

(Ord. 168, 2007)

Any person violating or failing to follow and comply with any of the regulations set forth in Section 13.05.030 may be removed from the Park. Any violation of any section of this chapter is deemed to be an infraction and punishable under this section according to the provisions of the Lake Forest Municipal Code and State law.

(Ord. 168, 2007)